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£25m Midfielder Would Welcome Tottenham Switch To Link Up With Andre Villas-Boas Again

Portugal’s Joao Moutinho has admitted he would welcome to chance to be reunited with Tottenham’s boss-in-waiting Andre Villas-Boas.

Villas-Boas is set to be named as Harry Redknapp’s successor in the next few days and has been heavily linked with a move for the Porto playmaker, who was one of his first signings for the Portuguese club in July 2010.

Moutinho starred as Portugal reached the semi-final of Euro 2012, standing out against Spain’s much-praised trio of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets, and is valued at around £25 million by Porto, with Manchester United ready to challenge Spurs for his signature.

But the 25-year-old has confessed a huge admiration for Villas-Boas and feels the 34-year-old was not given enough time to make his mark at Chelsea.

“AVB is one of the best coaches I’ve worked with. I’d work with him again tomorrow,” he told The Sun.

“I don’t really know what happened at Chelsea — but when you employ a new coach you have to give him time.”

Villas-Boas was sacked by the West London club in March, just eight months into a three-year contract.

Moutinho won the Europa League and Primiera Liga under Villas-Boas at Porto and believes he will be far stronger for his unhappy experience at Stamford Bridge.

“You can’t always base his progress on results. If players are obstructive it makes the job very difficult,” he said.

“Perhaps in the end he was judged more on immediate results than he was on his long-term vision. All I do know is he did a fantastic job at Porto. He didn’t win the league title and the Europa League by chance,” he added.